A tattered umbrella in the rain
Govt has promulgated an ordinance intending to award the death penalty to child rapists when the debate on capital punishment is yet to reach a logical end. The country is witnessing an environment where even the opponents of capital punishment will find it difficult to object. After the brutal rape and murder of an eight year old girl in Kathua, multitude of such cases the are being reported across the country. Newspapers are knocking at the door, their articles filled with rape and murder.
In the Nirbhaya case an adult woman was raped, but now, people are cursed to read the reports of rape of an eight month old female infant. The govt doesn’t seem to have the wherewithal to prevent this. After the Kathua horror, such kind of articles are all you see on the front pages of the papers. Internationally too, it is damaging India’s reputation. International leaders including UN chief, António Guterres are condemning the Govt. of India.
In such trying times, the one way the Govt has found to fend off international criticism is to propagate the said ordinance. This ordinance has evoked mixed responses across the country; particularly the clause that suggests capital punishment for raping the girls under 12.
Is it the assumption of the Govt that raping girls above 12 is okay? What is the difference between brutes who rapes an 11 year old and 13 year old?
The law states that it is a criminal offence to marry a girl below 18 years. Even sex with consent with minors is in the ambit of rape. In such a context is it not a heinous crime if a brute rapes and murders a girl above 12?
Though the extent of punishment for the rape against girls above 12 has been increased, it fails to provide effective punishment to the violence perpetrated.
In a country like India the rape is essentially an attack on the very dignity of a woman. The perpetrator need not be lust filled character. Rape has been used as a tool to destroy the character , personality and deny a woman’s right to live in this country. This is not merely a physical attack, but a psychological attack too. Yes, even if a man’s limbs and hands are severed, he can yet live a dignified life in Indian society.
But if a raped woman tries to lead an honorable life, there are further attacks on her. Our legal system perceives rape as mere physical violence, the culprits manage to escape from the clutches of law easily. But the woman continues to be punished in various manner throughout her life. Whether the accused is punished or not, the society ensures that the victim is punished with a “Life sentence”.
In such a scenario, A rape is part of manslaughter to destroy the right to live and a ruthless design to destroy her individuality and personality. In other words, rape is a much gruesome crime than murder that impacts women. The country has seen how the upper strata had used rape to oppress dalits. Khairlanji is a classic example of such an act. This was not only a crime against a family, but also was a warning, for the rest of the dalit community.
During the Gujarat communal violence, rape was not only inflicted by lustful men. Even in Kathua, the perpetrators of the crime against a hapless child of eight were not only driven by lust, they were also communal fanatics. Their cruel violence was not only against a female, but against a community. Let us not be fooled to believe that after this ordinance, hordes of criminals accused of rape will be hanged in a row.. If we look at the conviction rate of the existing law, we will be deeply disappointed.
It is obvious that law and order has failed miserably in handling sensitive cases like rape. Recently The Govt has tried to dilute an existing Law under the pretext that it is being misused. While the atrocities against Dalits are increasing day by day, the Govt has not deemed it fit to see if the law is being implemented effectively. Instead it is showing unusual haste in diluting the act. With such a context how are we to feel assured that the Govt will push for a serious act for rape too?
Even the judiciary has worried more about misuse of women's safety laws,rather than worrying about its effective implementation.
There is an anti Dowry act, yet has it succeeded in stopping Dowry?
In crimes against children, the case should be registered instantly and the evidence should be collected posthaste. But the country witnessed just how this was thwarted in Kathua. Initially the case was hushed up;The Police had declared that no rape was committed. Only after a special investigation. the horrendous crime was brought to light.
The lawyers had taken to streets and urged that a charge sheet should not be presented against the accused.
In such a society, Is it easy to prove the rape against the children?
When a Govt is indirectly involved in hushing up the crime, and the Prime Minister of a country maintains a studied silence on that, how do we believe that the present Ordinance will be a deterrent to rape in a way?
It is as if the Govt providing a tattered umbrella when it is raining cats and dogs.
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Karnataka: Paramedical student attempts suicide after 'harassment', ex-boyfriend held
Hubballi (PTI): A 20-year-old paramedical college student attempted suicide by consuming pills after allegedly being harassed and blackmailed with her photographs by an acquaintance, police said on Wednesday.
Following the incident on Tuesday, the 23-year-old accused, who was previously in a relationship with her, was arrested, they added.
The matter came to light when the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI) informed the Vidyanagar police station about the woman’s suicide attempt, police said.
According to police, the second-year student attempted suicide in her women’s hostel after enduring constant "harassment and blackmail".
Citing a preliminary inquiry, a senior police officer stated that the woman and the accused were previously in a relationship. However, after their breakup, he allegedly began harassing and blackmailing her with her photographs.
"The woman's parents filed a complaint accusing the suspect of physical assault, mental harassment, and blackmail using her photographs and messages. Both the woman and the accused hail from Kundgol town, but for the past few months, he had been trying to harass her," the senior police officer said.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered, and the accused was arrested. The case will be investigated thoroughly, he added.
The woman is now out of danger, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
